Claire Blunt will have commercial responsibility for the Guardian’s global advertising business, for Guardian US and Guardian Australia, and for Guardian Jobs.
She is currently chief financial, operations and data officer for Hearst’s European business, having joined Hearst UK as CFO in 2015, then taking on additional responsibilities for operations as CFOO in 2017 and data in 2020. During her tenure she has led a series of transformational growth initiatives across the business in areas ranging from operations and business systems, consumer marketing and data, to advertising, diversified revenues and subscriptions.
Earlier in her career Claire held senior roles in a number of retail and consumer businesses. She is non-executive chairman of digital music rights business One Media iP plc, a member of the investment committee for NewstrAid, and is also a qualified barrister and chartered accountant. She lives with her husband and three teenage children in London.
Guardian Media Group chief executive Annette Thomas said: “Claire is a proven leader of diverse businesses, and brings with her a wealth of experience from global media and retail businesses of significant scale and complexity. Her breadth of functional expertise and operational excellence has led her to make commercial decisions that deliver profitable revenue growth and lasting strategic impact.
“Claire will play a vital role in leading our global advertising and jobs businesses to embed and execute their new strategies, and in supporting our US and Australian businesses to continue on their rapid growth trajectories.”
Claire Blunt said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Guardian, undoubtedly one of the world’s most respected media brands. At a time when trust in news media has never been more important, Guardian journalism plays a crucial role in the world.
“It is a privilege to join a business with such great talent, values and a loyal audience and most especially to be able to lead the advertising and international businesses which will make vital contributions to the next phase of GMG’s growth.”
Claire Blunt will join GMG on 1st March.
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